Crosby completes hat-trick of hat-tricks

Alex Kunawicz

• Last Updated: October 29. 2009 7:59PM UAE / October 29. 2009 3:59PM GMT

Sidney Crosby’s third career hat-trick helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to their 10th win of the season on Wednesday, a 6-1 thrashing of the Montreal Canadiens.

The performance came three years to the day after the 22-year-old centre’s first career hat-trick, against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“When you get three goals in a game, that kind of changes the look of your [season] numbers early on,” said Crosby.

“I’m trying to shoot the puck when I get chances and trying to not pass up good shots, but it’s just been a matter of the puck going in early on.”

The Colorado Avalanche also won their 10th game as they came from two goals behind to beat the Calgary Flames 3-2.

“It would have been easy for our guys to say, ‘We’ll get ‘em next time’,” said the Colorado coach, Joe Sacco.

Wojtek Wolski scored a third-period winner for Colorado, who are off to the best start in team history.

The Islanders won the ‘Battle of New York’ as they overcame the Rangers 3-1. “We’re way too easy to play against,” grumbled the Rangers’ coach, John Tortorella.

David Perron had two goals as the St Louis Blues beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 while Nick Foligno and Jarkko Ruutu scored 38 seconds apart as the Ottawa Senators edged the Florida Panthers 4-3.

James Neal’s overtime goal gave the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres enjoyed a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, also 4-1.

Ryane Clowe scored in the sixth round of a shootout as the San Jose Sharks beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1.

akunawicz@thenational.ae